The Deposit That Wasn't

What Was Paulus van der Sloot Really Doing at the Bank?

May 30th 2005 – Paulus van der Sloot stated he made two separate trips to the bank, for the purpose of depositing Joran’s gambling winnings from the night before.

How could Paulus have deposited Joran’s winnings from the night before?

Joran had not won any monies the previous night – he had lost.

Could Paulus have simply tried to use a “deposit” as his excuse for being gone from work on May 30 2005 at around 10:00 am?

Could he have read an official statement given to police by Andre Dos Santos about Joran’s winnings from May 30th, and tried to confuse the issue by saying Joran had won that money on May 29th instead – thus giving himself a plausible reason for going to the bank on May 30th at 3:30 pm?

Paulus was arrested 3 days after Andre gave his statement to authorities, and according to Aruban attorney David Kock, defense attorneys were receiving such statements within 3 or 4 days of them being given.

Did Paulus use information from Andre’s statement to then mislead investigators about his true reason for being at the bank and speaking with Ruth Dijkhoff at 3:30 pm on May 30th?

MAY 29TH - JORAN WINS NO MONEY

JORAN LOSES NOT ONLY HIS SPOT IN THE TEXAS HOLD EM TOURNAMENT, BUT ALSO HIS FATHER'S POSITION

Joran Statement
June 9, 2005

On Sunday, I do not remember the date any more, I went at approximately 16.00 hours, to the "Excelsior Casino" at the Holiday Inn Hotel to play "Texas Hold'm poker". (with this the suspect is talking about May 29th 2005). I went with my father named "Paul van der SLOOT" to the casino. I went to play "Texas Hold'm Poker" with my father. It is a poker game in which you get 7 cards and you have to make a card combination with your best (5) cards. You get 500 U.S. $ of fake money and with this money you play. I was done sooner than my father and I went and hung around in the casino. When it was half time of the game my father wanted to go home to go and babysit my ten year old brother. At my father's request I sat in for him and played "Texas Hold'm poker. I am not sure as to when half time was but I think it was between 19.00 and 20.00 hours. I kept on gambling until I lost too.

MAY 30TH JORAN WINS MONEY

ANDRE DOS SANTOS POLICE STATEMENT

Andre Statement
June 20, 2005

RADISSON HOTEL: Where Joran “won” on May 30th

I remained watching them gamble for a very long time. At some time I saw that "Deepak" walk into the casino and came up to us. At some time, I no longer remember the exact time, Guido, Joran and Deepak left the casino and I stayed behind. Approximately (1) one hour later, Guido returned because he had silver-plate US $100 =, chip. I no longer remember if Guido continued to gamble but I am certain that Joran did. After Joran was done at the poker table he had won approximately US $400 = and cashed in the chips

PAULUS CONTRADICTS JORAN'S OWN STORY ABOUT GAMBLING ON MAY 29TH, BY CLAIMING JORAN HAD WON MONEY

Paulus Statement
June 18, 2005

You are asking me whether I asked Joran for Guido's phone-number. I did indeed do that to verify with Guido if Joran had truly won third place at the Holiday Inn Tournament. Joran had told me he had won third place, he said he had won 150$ and had exchanged these into Aruban Florin. I had my doubts because he hadn't told me he had won the money immediately after winning it. I spoke with Guido at the “Raquet Club” and he told me Joran did indeed win third or fourth place.

THREE DAYS AFTER ANDRE GIVES HIS STATEMENT, PAULUS PASSES OFF ACTIVITIES FROM MAY 30TH AS FACTUAL FOR MAY 29TH AS AN EXCUSE FOR BEING AT THE BANK ON MAY 30TH

Paulus Statement
June 23, 2005

To your question if I tell you all the things I did on that Monday the 30th of May 2005, I can state the following. I went to work. The exact time I cannot remember but I think it was approximately 08.00 hours. I can also remember that around 10.00 hours I went to the C.M.B. bank. There were long cues at the bank so I left without having made any transaction and went back to work.

I left my workplace at approximately 15.00 hours. I arrived at the bank at approximately 15.30. I had gone to the C.M.B. bank that is situated in Noord.

To your question whether I went to the bank without stopping or going anywhere else, I can state the following. I at least cannot remember having been anywhere else. I think I went directly to the bank. At the bank I talked to Ruth DIJKHOFF. At the bank I deposited the money that Joran said that he had won in the “Free Tournament in the Holiday Inn” on the 29th of May 2005. It was approximately 500 Aruban guilders. Joran had given me 100 guilders because he had taken over my place in the tournament.

These inaccuracies make us question the real reason Paulus was at the CMB Bank on Monday May 30th at 3:30 pm, for he certainly was not depositing any gambling winnings of Joran's.

*What, then, was the real transaction that occurred at that bank at 3:30 pm?

*Was a withdrawal made by Paulus?

*If it was an irrelevant transaction, why hide it from investigators?

Unfortunately Ruth Dijkhoff can't tell us what transaction she helped Paulus van der Sloot with at the bank that day, as she was dead two weeks later.

*Were any bank records subpoenaed by the Aruban prosecutor's office?


Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!
Natalee's Freebirds